Chapter Five: Operation Gaslight.
20:00 7/4/1037, 9 years ago. Ikledes, Dremerian
It was a warm clear night. Taz Parker waited patiently on a hillside. A group of people were scattered on the grounds below.
"Finally. I made it." A girl said as she huffed her way through some brush. "Why did you have to choose this spot? We could have just as easily watched it with everyone else."
"Well, it gives me alone time with you. With Richar-" Taz tried explained but was cut off.
"Dickhead." Emily interjected.
"Dickhead" Taz Corrected. "Always chaperoning. It's hard for us to spend any alone time together. This spot. I like this spot."
"Dickhead can be a bit much sometimes, I know. It's sweet that you would set up that contraption to distract him so I could sneak off." Emily said, pecking Taz on the cheek with a kiss.
Meanwhile, close by.
Dickhead was trying to herd a goat to be able to get close. The goat had a tie, tied around it's neck; Dickheads favorite Tie.
"Come on now, just come to papa." Dickhead eased.
The Goat scooted it's foot and sprinted at Dickhead, colliding with Dickhead's private area.
Dickhead fell to the ground, riveting in pain. "Not what I meant."
Back at the Overlook.
An explosion rang out in the sky. Emily's face shined bright, as the colors radiated the locale.
"So, what even is this all about?" Emily asked.
"Rumor has it. There was a country, thousands of years ago. They decided to separate themselves from a country across a great mass of water. After a rebellion and a gritty war, Every year following on this day. They would celebrate with shows such as this one." Taz exolained, inflatuatef with the subject.
"So we do it in hopes of doing to same?" Emily said.
"Exactly. To keep hope alive. One day. When this is all over. Is to come to this exact spot, year after year, with you." Taz said slyly.
"Smooth talker are we?" Emily said, flushed. "That sounds." She couldn't resist herself and pecked him with a kiss on the lips. "Perfect" she then held for a longer period of time.
Ikeldes, 15 Hours ago.
Taz Walked into Postier's Headquarters. He found Emily cuddled on the lobby couch.
"Are you okay? I heard what happened at the meeting." Taz said as he sat next to her, taking her hand.
"I'm fine." Emily said, a tear running down her face. She removed her hand from his grip.
"Em, if there is anything you need, I'm here." Taz comforted.
"Taz, really, I'm Fine." Emily Assured.
"Well, you don't look fine. Anything. I'm yours." Taz said.
"I know." She said calmly, but Taz could see anger brewing behind her eyes. "I Can't get the image out of my head. Her head. Exploded. I can't" she spat out before bursting out in tears. Taz let her lay her head on his should. "I want his head. I want it here. In front of me, and I need your help to do it."
"I-I don't know how I can be of any help. I really don't." Taz replied.
"But I do." A voice called out as someone entered the room.
"And how is that Hernando?" Another voice called from the office. Hansel stepped out.
"Missy Rahn. I know her, very well mind you. If Kassinger is there, from the rumors of her loyalty are true, she is bound to be close by, keeping watch." Hernando explained.
"How does this help us?" Taz asked.
"How many U.C.A. officials has she killed? If we catch her and bring her to the U.C.A. Maybe Grant will forgive us for the Ebeom Incident." Hernando Explained.
"Rumors also tell us, she is very skilled. How could we possibly even get the chance?" Hansel pokes.
"I be there. She doesn't know that I am still alive. If she sees me, then it will throw her off for enough time to get the job done. This is what we use the parlay for. This needs to be our move." Hernando presses.
"Sounds like a solid plan. I like it Garetiaz." Hansel says.
"I'm going to." Emily states.
"Out of the question." Hansel denies.
"Hans, I want to see the man that killed my Father, I want the person that is responsible for my Mother's death held accountable. I want to look him in the eyes as I do it." Emily spat.
"This is a parlay. If we directly attack him then and there, it will reflect horribly on us all. Like Hernando said. Missy Rahn is the objective." Hansel demands.
"Someone is going to have to do the capturing. With Paige's help, we can easily whip up an idea of how to do it. Besides her, I know her the tech the best. It has to be me." Emily Pleaded.
Hansel stood silent for a second. "Fine, but stay behind me at all times." He gave in.
"So this is the plan. We capture Missy Rahn so we can trade for forgiveness. We all agreed?" Hernando asked.
"Yes!" Everyone cheered.
"Until then. Emily, the map. Let's see it."
"Right." Emily said and grabbed her bag. She got up and brought it to the middle table. She took the canister that the Map was held in ans took it out. She placed it over the projector.
A image of a continent showed on the board.
"Chilean Terrain? Not where I expected." Taz laughed.
"After we trade Missy, we immediately go after the Prism drive. Then we can end to fucking war once and for all." Hansel announced.
"To ending this fucking war!" Everyone cheered in agreement.
Yerma, Current Time.
A faint scream could be heard in the sandy aroma of the Yerm Desert.
"What was that?" Kassinger said in concern.
"It's a go. Operation Gaslight is a go." Emily announced and pulled out a firearm and fired before anyone could react.
Kassinger fell to the ground, but was only struck in the ear. Emily tried to fire again but the gun jammed.
Realizing what just happened Kassinger's men raised their guns to return fire, as did Postier's group. Taz however was only focused on Emily.
Taz sprinted and tackled Emily to protect her from Incoming gunfire.
"What the fuck Em?" Taz said in Emily's ear once they made landfall.
Bullets whizzed over Taz's head.
"Get her out of here!" Dickhead ordered.
Taz grabbed Emily and dragged her behind Postier's Soldiers.
"I'm going to kill you, you fuck! I'm goinf to rip your fucking head off!" Emily spat, anger growing more sincere with every word.
"Taz! Go!" Dickhead rushed. Dickhead then threw projectiles which exploded in unison, kicking up a massive dust cloud for cover.
The group evacuated beyond the dune. They navigated their way closer to the town of Marib. Yerma.
With Kassinger troops not far behind. Hansel leads his team further into the town. They took shelter in a building.
Dickhead angrily grabbed Emily and held her against the wall. "What were you thinking? Never, ever, do anything that stupid again." Dickhead ordered.
"He killed my parents." Emily defended.
"And he killed-." Dickhead "He killed the love of my life. Trust me, I know your pain."
"No you don't! Don't tell me you would have done anything different!" Emily cried.
"I didn't! What you did was foolish! If anything happened to you, I couldn't-." Dickhead spiraled.
"Guys." Taz cautioned.
"But it didn't! I almost had him!" Emily bragged.
"But you didn't! I saw all my hopes and dreams-" Dickhead argued.
"Guys! Shut up!" Taz raised his voice. The two stopped in their tracks. They then heard a vehicle approach. Doors slammed as men piled out of the vehicles. "Spread out and find them. Remember Kassinger wants the girl alive, everyone else is expendable." A soldier ordered.
"The Package. Where is it?" Hansel whispered.
"On it's way to the Rendezvous point." Emily stated.
"Good. Meanwhile let me call in a distraction." Hansel said and pulled out his E-Tap. "Air Support, we need immediate delivery of a payload. Madrib, Main strip. Danger Close. Codex Evac. Over"
"Copy. Payload two minutes out. Get ready for fireworks." A voice said from the E-Tap.
"When the bombs drop, we go. Cover your ears, and brace yourself. It is going to be hairy." Hansel ordered.
The team hide under and behind anything they could fit themselves. Dickhead found some clamed and managed to secure it to a grenade. He hid right on the side of the door to outside.
"They must be in this town, they headed this way. Quickly, search the buildings. Go!" A Kassinger Commander called out.
The group waited patiently as Kassingers soldiers neared the building.
Footsteps could be heard crunching in the sand just outside the window. A shadow moved on the curtain of the window as the soldier walked by.
"Come out, come out wherever you are. This is Kassinger's Will." the soldier taunts as he nears the do door way.
The soldier stepped through the doorway and was met with a shock.
"Well Dickhead's Will is that you snort grenade." Dickhead said as he stepped out in front of the soldier and clipped the grenade to The soldiers nose, and the lastly kicked the soldier out of the building into a group of soldiers.
A loud explosion followed. The soldier's head disappeared in a red mist of brains and blood. Some soldiers were killed in the blast, whereas some crawled on the ground bleeding out and screaming.
"Over there!" other soldiers yelled out in shock.
Gunfire riddled the building, Dickhead dove for cover, but immediately repositioned to return fire.
Dickhead met his mark and two soldiers fell to the ground, giving the group a opening to run.
"Go!" Dickhead orders. Hansel covered Dickhead's pack and fired over his should for any incoming soldiers.
The rest of the group piled further back into the building towards the back exit.
Dickhead backed towarda the exit but then raised his hand and pressed a button on his e-tap with his thumb. A projectile dispersed from the E-Tap and stuck to the ceiling just above the door entrance. The device exploded and the front of the building caved in, blocking the entrance.
Taz followed just behind Emily. A soldier appeared through the exit door. Taz raised his gun over Emily's shoulder and fired, luckily the entire team was ordered to wear Top tier ear muffs to muffle sound.
The soldier dropped to the floor. Emily kicking the door outwards which knocked back another soldier. Emily fired her pistol and the bullet ripping through his head. His body falling limp. She turned around and fired again and another soldier dropped. Taz coming through the doorway, firing on one last soldier, the Back of the building was now clear.
Dickhead was the last to come out of the building. "This way!" he said and turned around the corner toward the front of the building. He opened fire as he peeked around the corner.
Dickhead ducked onto the wall and waited.
"You think that did it?" Taz asked.
"Oh yeah. They're coming right now. When the bombs drop, we immediately go as soon as viable." Dickhead assured as He peeked over to see soldiers beginning to arrive to their location.
Then the great sounds of Their Fighter jet engine could be roaring in the distance.
"Here we go! Brace!" Hansel ordered.
The fighter jet whizzed by and what followed was a lot of rumbling. Fire burst into the air. The heat was almost unbearable but fortunately for them it was short lasted.
Screams could be heard within earshot. A soldier flailed aimlessly, engulfed in fire. Dropping to his knees and eventually falling flat as he succumbed to his injuries.
"Go!" Dickhead ordered. And led the charge.
Dickhead ran out into the blazing street guns-a-blazing. The team followed. Taz positioned Emily behind him, blocking her from incoming strays.
"Coming back around for the finishing strike, better have your asses out of there!" a voice beckoned through the coms.
"The Evac is just over that ridge!" Hernando yelled out. The group ran as the Second strike rained hell in the street behind them.
The group managed to outrun rhe strike, and they could see the bodies of what used to be Kassinger's trooped riddled in the street, burnt to a crisp.
Taz followed Dickhead and Hansel over the ridge, and they could finally see the helicopter, waiting for their arrival. Soldier waited, ushering them to hurry. In the distance the fighter jet could be seen heading back home, but a stray missile collided with it, shot from the other side of town. The Jet exploded and disappeared in the sand Dunes below it.
Taz followed behind Dickhead as they neared the helicopter. Missy Rahn could be seen, secured in the cargo bay, still entombed in the foam.
The team boarded the helicopter, and it lifted off the ground.
Taz gazed in awe at the sight of the Town of Madrib, fully engulfed in flames.